SUSTO’s Favorite Hometown Venue Is SC’s New Brookland Tavern: “The Center of My Musical Universe”
The post SUSTO’s Favorite Hometown Venue Is SC’s New Brookland Tavern: “The Center of My Musical Universe” appeared first on Consequence.
All over the country, every night, local music venues are being filled with young fans eager to watch burgeoning bands. These are the spaces Hometowns of Consequence is here to celebrate — those welcoming places where people go to both witness and create culture. After all, without venues like West Columbia, South Carolina’s New Brookland Tavern, bands like SUSTO may never have gotten their start.
The indie Americana outfit just released their latest album, My Entire Life, last month, and according to frontman Justin Osborne, you could trace that title right back to the all-ages venue in his home state. “Growing up in small town South Carolina, [New Brookland Tavern] always felt like the center of my musical universe,” Osborne tells Consequence. “I believe it’s SC’s longest continually operating venue, and because it’s all ages, I was road-tripping to Columbia from an early age to see shows with friends, and I eventually started performing some of my first shows there.”
SUSTO aren’t the only ones to have benefitted from NBT’s inclusive environment. Since opening its doors in 1998, the venue has grown a reputation for booking soon-to-be major artists early in their careers: My Morning Jacket, Rilo Kiley, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Manchester Orchestra, Band of Horses, The Gaslight Anthem, Toro y Moi, Ice Nine Kills, and even fellow Hometown contributors Portugal. The Man have all stopped through on their rise to stardom.
Osborne told us exactly why New Brookland Tavern is so special and what makes them so good at what they do, and you can read everything the SUSTO singer had to say below. You can also vote for your own favorite local music venue at Hometowns of Consequence or via the widget below. Follow the widget’s instructions to share with friends and you could win discounts to the Consequence Shop or free tickets to your favorite venue!
For some more inspiration, see which venues artists like Josh Homme, UPSAHL, Deer Tick, The Dead Milkmen, McKinley Dixon, and OSEES named as their favorites.
What’s your favorite local venue under 2,000 capacity and why?
Although I’ve got a lot of favorite venues, I’d have to say the one closest to my heart is New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, SC. Growing up in small town South Carolina, NBT always felt like the center of my musical universe. I believe it’s SC’s longest continually operating venue, and because it’s all ages, I was road-tripping to Columbia from an early age to see shows with friends, and I eventually started performing some of my first shows there. Even now, I still do reunion shows there sometimes with my old band, and it always feels really good to be back, whether I’m playing, seeing a show, or just stopping by for a drink.
Is there a particular memory you have about how NBT has had an impact on SUSTO’s career or your development as an artist?
I really cut my teeth playing shows at New Brookland, and I’ve had so many exciting experience on stage there that it’s hard to pick a favorite. But one that stands out in particular happened when I was probably a junior in High School: My band at the time got to open up for Andrew W.K. at NBT (on a school night) and it was such a fun experience to perform and also see his show. It definitely helped send me onward down the path of pursuing music full time.
What is something NBT does notably well in regards to the greenroom or onstage experience?
Well, NBT isn’t exactly known for its greenroom or anything like that (they actually didn’t really have a green room till recently lol), but i think one of the best things about it is the all-ages aspect. Because it allows young bands and fans to get involved in the live music scene from an early age, it makes it all feel more accessible I think, and that is definitely something that made it special to me from an early age.
What separates an “okay” venue from a “good” venue, and what makes NBT great?
I think the best venues aren’t necessarily the nicest; to me it’s more about accessibility and variety. Great venues are places for young and old alike to go and experience live music in whatever way suits them best. NBT does a great job of keeping a diverse calendar of shows, so there’s something for everyone.
What would you like to the people working behind the scenes at New Brookland Tavern?
Over the years, I’ve become friends with the staff at New Brookland, and they’ve always been super supportive of my career. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship and I’m grateful for them celebrating me as a homegrown artist and continuing to have my back. I guess I’d just like to express my gratitude to everyone behind the scenes there for creating an environment that both inspired me to be in music and has also helped nurture my career. It’s hard to imagine how different my life might be if I hadn’t had New Brookland Tavern as a place to find and express myself through all the different stages of my life and career.
New Brookland Tavern — Hometown Info:
Opened: 1998
Capacity: 300
Location: 122 State St, West Columbia, SC, 29169
Upcoming Shows: Speedy Ortiz, (hed)PE, The National Parks, The Devil Makes Three’s Pete Bernhard and The Bridge City Sinners’ Clyde McGee & Lightnin’ Luke, Spitalfield, Cro-Mags with BRAT and Brass Tongue, CROWBAR with Primitive Man and Bodybox, Illiterate Light
Website and Tickets: NewBrooklandTavern.com
Socials: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
SUSTO’s Favorite Hometown Venue Is SC’s New Brookland Tavern: “The Center of My Musical Universe”
Ben Kaye
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